Jean-Marc Scanreigh is born in 1950 in Marrakech (Morocco), where his father is then official. He spends his childhood in Alsace; very soon, he is captivated by the exhibitions organized by the museums in Strasbourg. In 1971, the young man discovers American abstraction whose independence strikes him and releases his expression: he decides to abandon his studies in physics and chemistry to devote himself to art. Jean-Marc Petit, his last name, invented his name Skanreigh (which he later replaced by Scanreigh) while digging in a Sanskrit dictionary. Until 1978, the young artist is alternately assistant teacher in mathematics, night watchman and officer of PTT. Scanreigh leaves Alsace in 1978 for St. Stephen where he is recruited as a teacher at the School of Fines Arts, the job of engraving being vacant in 1985, the artist settles in this new specialty. Over time, Scanreigh provides instruction in several schools of Fine Arts (Besançon, Saint-Etienne), now that of Nimes, where he lives.
Scanreigh gets his first exhibition at the Library Michele Hervieux in 1973 (this latter had previously presented an exhibition of Support-Surfaces group). He participates in his first group exhibition in 1975 (Knokke-le-Zoute). These early skirmishes are followed with great regularity by numerous solo and group exhibitions. The year 1976 marks his discreet debut in an editorial proceeding that never wavers (journals, books, etc.). In 1979, Scanreigh exhibits for the first time abroad (Germany). Since his installation in Lyon in 1983, Scanreigh is exhibited in various galleries and institutions in the city and Geneva.
In 1985, Scanreigh begins working with the Parisian Engraver on metal René Tazé. Since that time, the graphic maturation of the artist truly transforms his painting. In 1986, the artist exhibits at the Museum of the Original Prints of Gravelines, and two years later, the Lyon Library accepts the legal deposit of his engraved work, creating on this occasion his first catalog (332 prints and illustrated books).
From the early 90s, Scanreigh prints many "closets" (or posters) with writers and poets; as well, he becomes a rich creative artist's books and realizes numerous original illustrations for publishers (Fata Morgana, in particular, with whom he collaborates a long term). His catalog of the artist's books lists 194 titles, an area where Scanreigh unite his art with poems and texts by Bernard Noël, Raymond Queneau, André Pieyre de Mandiargues, Ovide, Pierre Courtaud, Michel Butor, Leon-Paul Fargue Eugène Ionesco, Francis Ponge and many others.
His engraving work has nowadays more than 1,000 prints (woodcuts, linocuts, etchings, serigraphs, photo type), often with small limited pulling.
Scanreigh is a multi-traveller of the art, an artist as active as can be, painter, poster artist, sculptor, printmaker, draftsman, illustrator, teacher, writer. . . Jean-Marc Scanreigh, prolific creator if any (The Chomorat private fund presents the beginning of an inventory of works on paper by the artist, inventory of 12,719 sketches and drawings, and 182 books in 2001!) represents the creative passion and generosity in all its forms.
Jean-Marc Scanreigh is born in 1950 in Marrakech (Morocco), where his father is then official. He spends his childhood in Alsace; very soon, he is captivated by the exhibitions organized by the museums in Strasbourg. In 1971, the young man discovers American abstraction whose independence strikes him and releases his expression: he decides to abandon his studies in physics and chemistry to devote himself to art.
